I booked a rental car from 4th September 2021 to 7th September 2021 for a trip away from home and visits to a number of sites.
My trip provided excellent birding opportunities, especially the sighting of an exceptionally rare White-tailed Lapwing plus 3 further additions to my UK year list for 2021 (Cattle Egret, Little Stint and Water Rail).
4th September 2021
On 4th September 2021, apart from catching up on various things that required a car, I had a brief visit to Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea to hopefully see the Cattle Egrets that were being reported regularly there. These typically southern European herons are being seen in the UK in increasing numbers and this seems to be a sustained range expansion with the species now breeding, albeit very rarely.
I have seen large numbers of Cattle Egrets in southern Europe but I had my first UK record at Blythburgh in Suffolk in September 2001 when the species was still very much a rare vagrant. From 2014, I have recorded Cattle Egret every year for my UK year list, including previously at Wat Tyler Country Park in September 2017.
My visit to Wat Tyler Country Park on 4th September 2021 proved to be successful and it was very easy to see 4 Cattle Egrets moving across the saltmarsh on the other side of Timbeman’s Creek. Whilst watching these birds, I had the unexpected and welcome sighting of a Spoonbill flying through. Cattle Egret was an addition to my UK year list for 2021 but I had already previously recorded Spoonbill.
The Cattle Egrets were too distant for photos but here are some that I have taken in Spain ....
Photo: Cattle Egret at Corredor Verde dos Bahias near Benalup, Andalucia, Spain
Photo: Cattle Egret at Corredor Verde dos Bahias near Benalup, Andalucia, Spain
Photo: Cattle Egret at Corredor Verde dos Bahias near Benalup, Andalucia, Spain
5th September 2021
During late August
and early September each year, I usually visit RSPB Titchwell Marsh in north west Norfolk and RSPB Frampton Marsh in east Lincolnshire, principally
for the autumn return wader passage migration and specifically targeting Little
Stint and Curlew Sandpiper as additions to my UK year list.
After an early start from home, I arrived at RSPB Titchwell Marsh at around 9:15 a.m.
Compared with previous years, my visit was slightly disappointing. However, after more than an hour and after much repeated scanning, I finally found a single Little Stint which was a further addition to my UK 2021 year list.
In addition to the Little Stint, I recorded the following wader species amongst the large numbers of eclipse ducks: Black-tailed Godwit (c.100), Avocet (c.50), Ruff (c.50), Dunlin (c.20), Ringed Plover (2), Lapwing (c.100) and Golden Plover (1). Unfortunately, I did not see the hoped for Curlew Sandpiper and nor did I see Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper or Common Sandpiper.
Other highlights at RSPB Titchwell Marsh included: Marsh Harrier (7 birds in the air together), Bearded Tit (several heard calling only), Chiffchaff (4 heard including 2 males still singing), Blackcap (2 heard alarm calling) plus several Ruddy Darters and Migrant Hawkers and Reeves’ Muntjac (2 “barking” males heard near the visitor centre).
Here are some photos of Ruffs from my visit ….
Photo: Ruffs at RSPB Titchwell Marsh
Photo: Ruff at RSPB Titchwell Marsh
Photo: Ruff at RSPB Titchwell Marsh
Photo: Ruff at RSPB Titchwell Marsh
6th September 2021
After staying overnight at Premier Inn Kings Lynn, it had been my plan to first visit RSPB Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire and then move on to RSPB Blacktoft Sands in east Yorkshire for the White-tailed Lapwing that had been present for several days.
However, the early morning weather was not as had been forecast so I drove directly (albeit slowly due to the typically dreadful experience of the A17 in Lincolnshire) to RSPB Blacktoft Sands where I had a very successful visit.
Apart from seeing the exceptionally rare White-tailed Lapwing (see here), I recorded the following: Bittern (1 “booming” male heard on several occasions), Little Egret (13), Grey Heron (2), Little Stint (2), Greenshank (5), Green Sandpiper (3), Common Sandpiper (1), Ruff (c.30), Black-tailed Godwit (c.10), Ringed Plover (1), Common Redshank (2), Lapwing (c.20), Common Snipe (11) and Water Rail (1 heard only but another addition to my UK 2021 year list).
Other highlights at RSPB Blacktoft Sands included: Marsh Harrier (1), Common Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Bearded Tit (c.10), Reed Bunting (1), Reed Warbler (3), Cetti’s Warbler (1 heard singing), Chiffchaff (1 heard calling) and several adult and juvenile Goldfinches feeding on thistles in front of one of the hides.
Like RSPB Titchwell Marsh, my visit was slightly disappointing compared with previous years primarily due to the fact that the whole marsh surrounding the 360 degree hide was completely dried up. Normally, there is plenty of wet mud which proves to be a huge attraction to waders.
Nonetheless, other areas of the reserve did prove to be productive and I recorded the following: Spoonbill (20), Great White Egret (1), Little Egret (5), Little Stint (5), Greenshank (1), Ruff (4), Common Sandpiper (1), Dunlin (c.30), Black-tailed Godwit (c.100), Common Snipe (8), Avocet (1) and Lapwing (c.100).
Other highlights at RSPB Frampton Marsh included: Yellow Wagtail (7), Whinchat (1), Swallow (c.20) and, amongst the large numbers of eclipse ducks, c.10 early returning Wigeon.
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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